Journalist and professor Candace Kelley, who hosted the Not All Hood (NAH) podcast with the late 'Cosby Show' actor, opens up to PEOPLE about her memories of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, calling him a man who was hilarious,

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's friend Candace Kelley shared touching memories, rare family insights and their mission to spotlight untold Black stories

Malcolm-Jamal Warner has established himself as one of television’s most enduring actors, with a career spanning several decades and memorable characters that have resonated with multiple generations of viewers.

“We were devastated to hear that Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned while vacationing in Costa Rica,” Goldberg began. “He was just 54 years old. He first became a pop culture icon as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. And generations of Americans are feeling this loss because he was like everybody’s brother.”

Malcolm-Jamal Warner spoke with PEOPLE in 2024 about his mom Pamela Warner's valuable advice serving as a guiding light throughout his career.